Telephone repeating system and apparatus.



Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

G. ADAMS-RANDALL.

TELEPHONE REPEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2,1B10.

W mg vied W awn)- N? Rum C. ADAMS-RANDALL.

TELEPHONE REPEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1910.

2 1 9 l 0 2 U 6 F d 6 t H 8 t a P and snot-l only! the re UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO RANDALL TELE- PHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF- AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TELEPHONE REPEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES ADAMS-RAN- DALL, a citizen of the United States, residin 4 at New York, in the county. of New Yorr and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Telephone Re peating Systems and Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a telephone repeating system and electro-magnetic repeating means necessary thereto and which is automatic in its action, and under the influenceor operation of voice-caused, or telephonic or electric currents, impulses or vibrations operate to retransmit or repeat telephonic' messages from one independent circuit into one or more independent circuits, in contradistinction to the transmission of such messages inductively over sect-ions of a circuit, or conductively over sections of a circuit joined together as a whole. Technie'ally, such apparatus is known as a repeater when repeating or retransmitting from one independent main line circuit into or over another mainline circui-t, and as a relay when it serves to control or utilize a local battery in alocal circuit in which directly or indirectlysuitable receiving, re

producing, or recording apparatus is ineluded-at the local station or in a short. local or subscribers. circuit. In an automatic telephone repeating system, the interconncc tion or cooperation, through intermediate means, of one separate and independent tel, epho'nelcircuit with one or more independenttelephonecircuits, whereby' teleplhone .messages transmitted over one offlsuc circuits; can v--be a1 itoi na-tically retransmitted over or. upon another independentv circuit, or. over or uplonother independent circuits, Without. any .'electrical or, mechanical connect-ijon betweenisuch circuits is a vital or essential "element Qof .th ystem and apparatus, peat-ing' device itself must be} considered and included in the inventign constituting such asystemand apparatus, but valso mea "fftii automatically controllingatwo or nor; independent. main line circuits; means for cont-rplling from either distant terminal the device's employed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 2, 1910.

' this invention. In m-' v-p"revious app Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 558,073.

to produce a complete telephone repeater for operation intermediate the terminals of said independent main line telephone circuits.

To this end the objects of the present invention are as followsf the production of an automatic electro-magnetically operated telephone repeating apparatus for us'e intermediate two distinct independent telephone circuits; producing means for obtaining iii) solute control of an electromagnetic repeating apparatus intermediate the sending and receivinglstations; producing means for the automatic control of the telephone repeater, namely, its transmitting means having its local battery or batteries, its coil or coils and the necessary circuits and circuit connections therefor; to provide for automatically retransmitt-ing or repeating tele phonicmcssages transmitted over or u on one independent circuit by'manually or e e e tro magnetically operated transmitting meansand reproduced in one or. more independent circuits by cleetro-magnetic means actuated by the electric currents, vibrations or. impulses caused or produced by the t1 ns-. mitter in the first or primary transmit ing circuit. whether caused by the act of speak- 'ing into or upon a telephone transmitter, or

by-the operation of a transmitter by electro- 1nagnetic means; to control from either terminal .of two cotiperat-ing independent tele phone lines or circuitsof an autoi nat icg llit-- acting intermediate repeating apparatus for retransmitting telephonic messages; and-tn produce means for controlling two independ ent circuits from either terminal In any pending application. for; phone repeater, SerialcN'umber 255 April-15, 1.905, certaiii'parts are shown n I described similar and corresponding tion to some of the means forming however, the electroi-rnagnetic cont-rolling r switch has a different.- construction andjoperation and is arrangedltofbe actuated directio by thetelcphon'e currents passing I coils and others in series therewith, main line. (lwing to the low energy or- .power of telephone currents on comparatively long telephone circuits a very delicate and perfect construction of the movable arts of this class, of controlling switches is necessary to assure operation, and even under these favorable conditions of construction many disadvantages are present. The presentinvention is an improvement on that disclosed by my prior application and seeks not only to overcome the objections and disadvantages found to exist in the earlier former the apparatus, but also to provide means for effecting other operations as will be hereinafter explained, and for more positively and effectually control- 1'5 ling the action of the electromagnetic transmitter .oi the re eater and its cooperating parts; the use 0 a current of any required power, from a battery or other source of electrical energy, .in' contradistinction to the telephone-induced current, for actuating the electromagnetic controlling switch over circuits .pf. greater length; and to obtain initter, toget ier' with the circults and circuit connecting means therefor and appertaining thereto, and arranging such parts or-means and the circuits in duplicate in 40 the one apparatus or telephone repeating instrument, v

The invention further consists, in combination with a telephone repeating system at the terminals of the independent circuits operative to continuously having means close from either terminal for and during the trans mission qf ,messag'es. from either terminal, of a main line battery that actuates ax electromagnetic switch means in thettausmitting circuit for closing the local tand.;;rna-inline circuiticonnedtions of the reeater,,the, 'said terminal switch means being adaptedth. out. out ogtthe circuit when re ceiving,.,r ifz,desired, the main line batteryand-thetransmitting coilz atthete'rminal. a

peater and the circuits connectedtherewith independcntlv of the electro-magnetic trans.

transmitter 1, or both, In

p re ,1 is '9; dia am-- mat ca ew of thefpperative Means of t e reandfthe ndependent main line circuits togrammatic view showing a modification of the means for controllin the calling apparatus and its battery. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the apparatus showing a further modification.

The essential operative parts of the apparatus consist of electro-magnetically oper-' ated.. repeater organizations A and B, res ectiv'ely having in'coii eration therewith e ectro-magnetic controlling switches S, S, the terminal stations for convenience being hereinafter respectively designated West and East. V

The operative parts of the repeater A consist, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, of an electromagnetically operated transmitter 1 having a battery B, an induction coil, transformer {01' repeating coil C, and a battery 13% Combined with the transmitter 1,-which may be of any of the well known forms of battery- ,trans'mitters arranged to be operated electro ma etically, is an electro-magnet 2 having extended pole pieces'3, 3" su porting coils .4; 4, said coilsbeing include in one of the independent main line circuits, the 'electromagnet coils 5, 5 being. in a local circuit a, b with the battery B which serves to energize the electro-magnet when required, by; the automatic closing of its circuit at 11,12 by the action'of the controlling switch- S, the latter also simultaneously olosing thejcircuit of the battery B including the-transmitter 1 and the primary coil of the induction coil, transformer or repeating coiLhQ, it will be unde'rstoodthat. the electro gi iapgiet 2 n the snai -I'm t and from the other to obtagiiltief b st i'esults, and a simplified means zg adju'stment is shown by 'Fig. 2 and consi s'ji'ri supporting the electro-magnet 2 on a bed'or base plate 6' having slotted means suchlas an arm-or pro'ect-ion b engaged by. an adjustingscrew b ig. 2. This construction or the provision of means for adjusting theelectro-magnet is-iiot essential and it ie proposed t0 any'suitable device ordeiiccaforthis pur- The electro-magnetic c0ntrolling switchis may be of any preferred., form; ofco'nstruction adapted to the use oi a direct battery current. The form shown is that of-anordinary telegraph r e1q'ar d-consists o a suit-i 11. able electro-magnet having 6, arranged opposite to an armature: 1 supported 'ona fulcrumed leyer 8, the free oftiny-saidv lever being movable between two properly supported adjustnblc oontacttpoints 9,9", 21- retractile sprmglrilnnting to hold the saidffsz lever in 110mm, ion in. contact 'witl'f'"- the point 9 as she A euppleriiental'cirl cuit closer control ed by the .action-otthe main switch 8 is used and consists of a contact poi-at 11 on the-lever 'S'and insulated 7 points 11 and 12 circuit a, Z) of the battery B and magnetic poses from the latter, and a suitably supported adjustable contact point 12, said contact being included in the local coils 5 and 5" and "serve to open and close the said circuit. 7 I Theoperative parts of the repeater B are duplicatesof those included in the repeater organization Aand are indicated by reference characters 2*, '3, 4 5", B 13*, battery circuit 0, d, S, 6, 7 8 9" 9?, 10 1], 12*, and 1 respectively. F ig. 1 shows diagrammatically and sy mbolically all of the --devi ces connected up in their proper main andlocal circuits, in normal positions. The independent circuits or lines are marked respectivelyl VL. from the west terminal V, and E. L. from the east terminal E. The independentmain line circuits are indicated by heavy linesflto distinguish. them from the reihaining or local circuits which are indicated by light lines; The independent local circuits include the coils of the electro-magnet 2 and its batteryB and also the coils 5 ofthe electrosmagnet Q and its battery The independent local circuits also include the transmitter 1, its battery BQand the induction coil or transformer C andalso the transmitter lflits battery B" and induction coil or transformer-C, all. of which de vices are at the repeater 'SiillIlOHyill'lCl which, combined with the electro-magnetic controlling switches S and S, form essential elements of the automatic repeating apparatus. The batteryB is connected tothe transmit-- ter 1, and also by a wire w to the switch lever 8 of the switch S, and from the transmitter 1 by wire a: to the primary of C, and by wire to the contact point 92 such circuit being automatically closed when the lever 8 and the-point 9 are in' contact, The battery B is connected to the transmitter l and by wire in to the switch lever 8 of the switch S',-and from the transmitter 1* by wires to the primary of C, and by wire {a to the contact point 9, such latter circuit being automatically closed when the point 9 and the lever B" are in contact. Connection lRjllSO-.-1l]3d from the contact point 9 of the swiichgs withthe contact point "0 of the switch S by wire which has a branch so -1,0 ground G for purwhich will be liereinafter more fully explained" 'l '1 ground beinginorinally and 4* on the plea I v acted by ivir sf23and Q6 'ntactpoiutll and. thecoils asatfi of the elcct-roQ-niagnet controlling: switch "S of the' 'repeati nqorganization A; and likewise the 1'e]')cating organization B has a is a wire or con-.

nection 37 which is associated with the electro-magnetic coil or coils 6 of the switch S. A wire 24 constituting a partof one of; the main line circuits and servingas'the west. line out from the repeater connects with the lever 85 or the switch S'and runs to thewest terminal W, and a wire"27 form- 1 ing the remaining part of one of the main line circuits and serving as the west line in, to the repeater connects withthe coil or coils 6 of the electro-magnet of the switch S and also with the west terminal W. From a point 32 a branch of the main line circuit justspecified is'established by means of a wire 33 constituting 'in' the repeater organization a part of the west line and which -rims to the secondary of the induction coil or transformer C, the latter also being connected by a wire 34 to the contact; oint 9". 'A Wire 35 forming-part of an Independent main line circuitand serving as the east line out from the repeater is connected to the'lever 8 of the switch S and runs to the eastterminal E, a Wire 40 from the secondary of the induction coil or transformer C constituting the east. peater and also running to the east terminal E. The wire 40 has connection through the medium of a point 37* the coil or c'oils 6 of the electro-magnet controlling the switch lever 8*, and also to the secondary of the induction coil or transformer C which is connected by a wire 41 with the contact point 9 cooperating with the switch S. a

The subsidiary terminal apparatus at W and E embodies, 'n each instance a voice-operated telephone transmitter of any preferred or usual form indicated at the terminal W as at 13 and having a battery 14 and induction coil 15. As shown by ig. 1, a receiver 16 is normally supported on a well known form of automatic hook lever 17 cooperating with the usual contact piece 18 and also connected to the battery '14,'.the lever 17 making contact with the piece 18 when the receiver is disposed thereon in normal position.- The vcontact piece 16 is connected by a Wire 49 through a bell or other calling device 49? and a battery B to ground-G, and when the lever-is in engagement with the contactis arranged to receive a call from the east terminal apparatus E through;the independent east line circuit. Whenthe receiver is removed from the hook lever 17, the latter makes'contact with two independentcontact points 19 and 20, the contact point 19 being connected to the primary oftheinduction coil or transformer 15 and which is also connectedto the transmitter 13; The contactpoint-20 15 connectedto one pole of the battery 21, the latter having its pposite' pole connected line in to the reand a Wire 38with to the" secondary 22 of the induction coil or transformer 15, the receiver 16being-also" ing the east cormected to the, said secondary by wire" 28. [The wire 27 constituting the repeater is connected the west line in to lever17 h i wire 35" constituting the east line out from the repeater andthewire 40 constitut line in teftherepea'terare reflspectively connected to-ahook lever 17 and v V receiver 16 consisting of a switch embodying a switch lever cooperating with a contact point-53$ connected by a wire I v :53", forming art of wire39, with the secing the'secondaries of the and 15 and the batteries receiving, "when the system oriapparatusas a wholeis q terminals'Wand call. Assuming 5 2 to the secondary coil or transformer 15. The least line out paratus E and including a Woice-operated telephone transmitter 13 similar to the transmitter 13. The'lever ll'iiis connected to one pole of a battery 1& and" the trans initterylii is conne'ctedto theopposite pole ofthebatteryl When the receiver 16 is removed' from the lever 17, the latter makes,

contact with contact pieces 19 and 20, but normally the said lever is held in engagement with a contact piece 18, The contact iece 18?: is connected by a wireel through a and battery'B to'grou'nd G ell or other suitable signaling means 51 L g The contact pieces 19 and 20 are respectively connected to the primary of'the induction coil 15* and to one pole of a battery 21",

h the opposite pole of the latter battery being connected to the secondaryp22 oi the induction coil or trans former 15. The secondary 22 is connected by a wire"39 to the receiver 16*.

The west line 27 out to the repeater from the terminal W is connected to a switch S lever 53 cooperating with a switch point 52frconnected by a wire 22 of the induction from the repeater is connected to a switch S the induction- ,coil or transondary 2 2 0 switches S} and S and/the specific connections explained provide for the opening or clos ng of the shunts v thus formed with relation to the strumentalities at the terminals and the main line circuits for the purpose. of shunt- 21 and 21", when but it'will be understood that arranged normally thefsaidswitches will preferably be open.

The circuits at an'd'from the west and east E are normally ready for from the east terminal E and answered by the W terminahthe Weration is as follows:

led, I

the switch S condition for receiving; I v 'ing, E, IBITIOVGS hIS receiver l6 -from the to the receiver 16 land thewire accumu ating the west line outwfrom the repeater is attached to the closed when receiving, but must be open when send ng.

embodied irnthe terminal ap-' stood in the art, the coils 'ing as permanent magnets so series with the said receiver and the coils 6, 4. This closes scribers battery B,

switch hook 17 line several intion the calling party will" notify ringing the latters bell. This is accoma reduction coils 15 plished by the called party lifting his receiver the moment, "13 through the bell 49 that. a call has been sent and battery 28, thus putting the line in best The operator calllever 17" and speaks when the messages are transmitted over the west jcircuitand automatically repeated at the repeater into and over the east circuit.

j The swit hes S and S are preferably Any form ofcircuit closer, such as a telegraph key or a ush-button, can be. used in lieu of the switc es S S -Itwill be understood that the coils 4,6, 4" and 6" are preferably, of the well known double form of an electro-magnetand may be connected up in multile instead of in series as indicated in the rawings, thereby reducing the line resistance. As well under- 5 and 5 may be of double form, and serve with their respective batteries B", B to magnetize or polarize th'e softiron pole-pieces 3, 3 having the main line coils 4, 4 thereon, such pole pieces actl'ong as the batteries remain closed.

When one subscriber, as at W, desires to call another, the receiver 16 is removed and the battery 21 is connected in theline in the circuit from battery 21 to conductor 27 through the hoils 6 and 4, over conductor 25 to contact 9, over armature lever 8" and back to conductor 24 and to battery 21. Relay 6 is thus energized and in addition to closing the, circuits). of batteries B and B closes the" circuit of v the called sub-' position shown in Fig. 1) thereby ringing the bell 51. This circuit of the bell 51 extends from ground at Gr to the batteryB, the bell 51, normally closed" contact of the conductor 35, armature lever 8, contact 9?,-and .conductors 50, 50 to' ground at G. After calling the wanted sta-.

subscriber re laces his receiver so that the response- 0 the calling subscriber by store closing the switch S so that thabattery 21 is'connected in the line in series with the receiver 16 and coils 6, 4", thus energizing the relay 6, and grounding, for

and conductor 24;, and conductors 50, 56, at G. As'soon as the called party closes the switch S the relay 6 is deiiner'gized, and when the calling subscriber again lifts his receiver the relay- 6is energized and contact 9 a 52 cutting out thgqcoi a2 (since the switches S, S, S are, when thesystem is idle, in the the wanted the calling subscribers battery to groumt scriber at E desires to talk, he opens his switch S and the subscriber at W closes his switch Sh I 6 Without departing from the spir t of the invention a permanent steel magnet P', M having soft iron pole pieces" p supporting helicesv k, can be used in lieu of ,the electromagnet 2 or'. 2' heretofore described, .as shownby Fig. -4, and thereby dispense'fwith the battery B.;or'-B and associated parts, as shown" by; Fig; 1; Otherwise the devices shown'by Fig t are similar to those hereto]- fore described' andj are indicated by corresponding. reference numerals.

The repeating apparatus herein disclosed can be'used asaFfirelay and installed at'a' central exchange to' be used in connection with Ion distance and subscribers short cir-' cuits, or 'etween subscribers lines, to boost up orfiin'prove the transmission between any two subscribers using the telephone. In

this particular application as a relay the appa'ratu'isjwill he installed at central and connected in, intermediate the subscribers lines; by Qthc fQentraI-operator as required, similarlyf'asi'subscribers lines are now connected to :ethe'ratcentral;

' It w-ill, 'fun der stood that the repeater or ganization maybe used to retransmit or reatintolor' over a local circuit or circuits,

instead of main line circuits,to actuate telephonereoeivers included in such local circuits. 1'

Ivwiu'be noted from the foregoing description. that" the 'electro-niag'netic controllingjswitches are important, essential eleen sci theifepeater organization, and that thejiare actuated by a battery or other-currentiof greater energy than the speaking telephone current, to insure osit'ive operation.

urther; itwill be 'seen t iat'theapparatus as described is-istricti automatic in its o'perationfand adapted or the'transmission of telePhoneniessa es 'infeither direction at wil ,fthroug'lilan by'means of the automati- (zany-operating apparatus of Ethe repeater organization intermediate the sending and receiving stations and without requiring the attentionor id of an-operator at the intermediate station. Furthermore, there is no I continuous inductively connected circuit between the sen ing and receiving station in the present system and apparatus and con sequently the -disadvantageous loud, humming sounds set u in the inductively con nected circuits un er certain conditions are absent, and hence there is no interference with a clear and invariable reproduction of the messages at the receiver. \Vhat is-claimed is:

1. In a telephone repeating system, a re-' peater organization having electrosma netically operated transmitting. means in uplicats, electro-magnetic switch'means in' d'uplica'te for automatically; opening and'clos mg the respective lineand localcircuits-oi.

of greater energy than the telephone cur: rent for operating thejswitch means dur ng -transmission from: the terminal stations on the repeater organizatiomza 'curreii'b'suppl-y';

either side of the repeater organization a d. 1

included in, series in the mainline, and means at'the terminal stations- 9,15- cont-pol terminal station.

I ,h zaling said main line current'fromthe'send ng 2. 'In'a telephone repeating stein, in

combination with two separate, in ependent cotiperating main line telephone circuitsfof a repeating organization havin electromagnetically operative transmittlng means in duplicate, electro-magneti'c controlling means in duplicate for automatically select-j ing and making and breaking the main line and local circuit connections of the re" peater organization, a main line electric current supply included in series inthejmai'n line and of greater energy than. the -telephone current, and meansnat the terminal stations of the cooperating independent tele phone circuits for controlling said battery current or other current supply of greater] energy than the telephone current.

3, In a telephone repeating system, the combination with two separate, distinct and independent telephone circuits, ofapparatus' for transmitting and receiving telephone messages at the distant terminals of the two independent telephone circuits, a repeater loo organization intermediate the said two independent telephone circuits having electromagnetic switch means in duplicate disposed respectively in the two independent telephone circuits for selecting and closing the line and local circuits of the repeater organization, a-main line current supply of-greater energy than the telephone or speaking currents and independent tereof for 0 rating either of the electro magnetic switc means as reuired, and means at the terminal station or controlling the said main line current simultaneously with the transmission of telephone messages.

4. In a telephone repeating system, in combination with two distinct, independent telephone circuits, of an intermediate tele--' phone repeater organization comprising electro-ma mg means ,in duplicate, a main line battery in each of the two independent circuits for operating the'electro-inagnetic switch means, terminal station ap aratus in each fof the two independent main line circuits adapted to transmit and receivetelephone messages,

etically operated transmitting means in uphcate,electro-magnetic switch and means at the terminal stations adapted, to close the main line battery when transmitwhen transmitting, 'withmeans .at the ber-.

minal stationsfor transmitting and receiving messages together with means for closing at the transmitting station when messages are being transmitted, the respective mainline battery.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES 'ADAMS-RAfibALL.

Witnesses: j

F. C. JbU'rRAs, E. McAvmEr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of fatents;

- Washington, 15. 0.? 

